Automatic film processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for processing exposed film so as to develop, fix, wash and dry the film in a predetermined sequence and on a fully automatic basis. The exposed films are loaded into a carrier which is then set into the housing of the apparatus, and the films are successively dipped, or immersed, into a series of tanks within the housing by means of an elongated wand which supports the film carrier. The wand is carried on a laterally movable carriage, and a rotatable off-center cam is provided for causing the wand to move the film carrier vertically in and out of the aforesaid tanks. This dipping operation occurs at each of a plurality of predetermined lateral positions of the carriage. The tanks contain, for example, appropriate developing, rinsing and fixing solutions so as to carry out the film processing operations. The apparatus may be set to process a plurality of different types of film, each according to manufacturers&#39;&#39; recommendations, by setting a dial on the control panel of the apparatus. The various dial settings provide pre-set timing for the various operations by the circuitry employed.

United States Patent Kelso [4 1 June 27, 1972 [54] AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSING Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews APPARATUS Assistant Examiner-Richard M. Sheer Attorney-Jessup & Beecher [72] Inventor: James W. Kelso, Paclfic Palisades, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Xatron Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed; Oct 16 1970 Apparatus for processing exposed film so as to develop, fix, wash and dry the film In a predetermined sequence and on a [2 1] Appl. No 81,202 fully automatic basis. The exposed films are loaded into a carrier which is then set into the housing of the apparatus, and the films are successively dipped, or immersed, into a series of 5%} 238323113333?"'"""":JJJJJJJJ:::::::::::?fii?&.f83 ihiih wiihih he housing by hhhhi hi hi hhhihihi whhi 581 Field oiSearch ..95/89, 89 D, 100; 355/56,57 Suppms l The wand laterally movable carnage, and a rotatable off-center cam 18 provided for causing the wand to move the film carrier verti- [56] References Cited cally in and out of the aforesaid tanks. This dipping operation UNITED STATES PATENTS occurs at each of a plurality of predetermined lateral positions of the carriage. The tanks contain, for example, appropriate 3,183,818 5/1965 Pang born et al ....95/89 D devdoping, rinsing and fi i solutions so as to carry out the 3,315,551 1967 q q 57 X film processing operations. The apparatus may be set to 2,349,023 5/1944 95/89 D X process a plurality of different types of film, each according to 2,544,644 1951 l i D manufacturers recommendations, by setting a dial on the con- 2,548323 4/1951 Shlmlzuh 95/100 trol panel of the apparatus. The various dial settings provide 3,221,595 1965 Jefi'feei 355/ 57 pre-set timing for the various operations by the circuitry em- 3,492,932 2/1970 Van Baerle .....95/89 D pl'oyed 3,196,772 7/1965 Siekles ..95/89 D 12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 2%!!4/70/1/ 414/4 64 Ma or J1 171 8- f/grfj/kgj/ T? c '1: 1', -58 JU 34 41/60 I 56 2 7,545; (arr/v e 21 Wand-62 5 i 3 l {0/ 44 -54- i flare/ape f/hr/ #imre F/xer flan/fibre Tank Tame, Tar/ anb AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of theinvention is particularly advantageous in that it is durable in its construction, and it is extremely simple to operate. The apparatus may be operated under normal ambient light conditions, thus obviating any need for a separate dark room. An internal film dryer may be incorporated into the housing of the apparatus to perform a separate drying operation on the film after the main processing has been completed.

The apparatus to be described operates on the usual 115- volt 60-cycle alternating-current power. In operating the apparatus, the films to be processed are loaded onto a carrier which is suspended from the end of a reciprocating wand; the loading operation being achieved by opening the front lid of the housing. The lid is then closed, the aforesaid dial set to condition the machine to the particular brand of film being processed, and a push-button switch is actuated so as to initiate the film processing. The apparatus then continues automatically to process the film with no further operations being required on the part of the operator.

During the operation of the apparatus, the film carrier is carried by the aforesaid wand over a series of tanks, and the carrier is dipped into and out of each tank a predetermined number of times and'at a predetermined rate. The number of dips may be set to be different for each tank, depending upon the chemical requirements of the solution in each particular tank, and on ambient temperature conditions. In addition, the number of dips for the different tanks may be made different for the different brands of film, merely by setting the aforesaid dial on the control panel of the apparatus to different settings which may be directly calibrated in various major brand names.

The present invention is of the same general type as described in copending application Ser. No. 792,249 which was filed Jan. 21 1969, and entitled Automatic Film Processor, the copending application being assigned to the present assignee, now abandoned. However, the apparatus of the present invention incorporates a different and improved lateral drive means for the carriage on which the aforesaid wand is mounted, as well as a simplified calibration means whereby the apparatus may be set, as mentioned above, to process different brands of films to optimum manufacturers specifications, merely by setting a dial on the control panel of the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective representation of one embodimentof the processing apparatus of the invention, and showing the housing configuration;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus with the cover removed, so as to reveal the various internal operating components of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective representation of one of a plurality of similar tanks which are included within the housing of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a film carrier which is used in the apparatus; and

FIGS. 69 are circuit diagrams of an appropriate electrical control system for use in the equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a housing 10 which is shaped to define a control panel 12. A dial 14 is mounted on the control panel, and the dial may be set to any one of a plurality of different settings, corresponding to the brand of film being processed in the machine for any particular operation. As mentioned, each setting of the dial may be calibrated to a different major brand name of a group of film types. A start switch 16, which may be of the illuminated push-button type is also mounted on the control panel l2.

A front door 18 is also provided, and this door may be of the sliding tambour type. It may be composed of smooth and durable plastic, and it may be rolled back into the housing to any desired opening for the operator. The particular door 18 is advantageous in that it requires no special hardware to hinge or hold it open, and it provides full access to the internal tanks of the apparatus, so that they may be easily removed from time to time for cleaning purposes. The door 18 is light-tight when it is closed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a sliding carriage 30 is mounted on a rod 34 in appropriate transverse bearings, for example. The rod 34 extends transversely across the housing 10, and the carriage 30 is laterally movable from one side of the housing to the other along the rod 34. The rod 34 is actually tubular, and is preferably formed of an appropriate material such as stainless steel, as are the other metallic internal components of the mechanism, so as to be immune from corrosive vapors within the housing during the developing process. The carriage 30, and side support brackets 36 and 38 for the rod 34, may be composed, for example, of an appropriate plastic material.

A first drive motor is mounted, for example, on the bracket 36, and this drive motor is a reversible motor and is designated the lateral carriage drive motor 40. The drive motor 40 drives a pulley 42, and a cord 41 extends around the pulley 42 and around further pulleys 44, 46 and 48, and across the housing, the cord 41 being attached to opposite sides of the sliding carriage 30. Therefore, when the motor 40 is driven in one direction, the cord 41 causes the carriage 30 to move along the rod 34 in a first direction, and when the motor 40 is reversed, the cord 41 causes the carriage 30 to move along the rod 34 in the opposite direction.

A permanent magnet 50 composed, for example, of ceramic is mounted on the carriage 30, and is carried by the carriage as the carriage is moved from one side of the housing to the other. The rod 34 is tubular, as mentioned above, and it includes a plurality of magnetic switches 52 embedded, for example, in an hermetically sealed glass tube within the rod. Appropriate electric leads 53 are connected to the magnetic switches. The magnetic switches are positioned within the rod 34 at locations corresponding, for example, to the various stations within the housing at which the film processing operations are to be carried out. A plurality of tanks designated 54 in FIG. 2 are located at the various stations. As the carriage 30 is moved from one station to the next, the permanent magnet 50 actuates the corresponding magnetic switch 52 which causes the carriage to stop at that station, and which activates a further circuit so that a dipping operation may be carried out.

The further circuit includes a second motor 56 designated the vertical drive cam motor, and this motor, when energized, rotates an off-center cam rod 58 which, likewise, extends between the brackets 36 and 38 from one side of the housing 10 to the other. The energizing leads from the motors 40 and 56, and for the various magnetic switches 52 are carried across the housing in the tubular member 34. An elongated wand 62 is pivotally mounted in a yoke 64 which, in turn, is suspended from the lower side of the carriage 30. One end of the wand 62 extends over the various tanks 54, and the other end of the wand extends under the off-center cam 58.

The electronic control circuit for the apparatus responds to the actuation of one of the magnetic switches 52 to de-energize the motor 40 so as to cause the carriage to stop at the corresponding station, and then to energize the motor 56, so as to cause the cam rod 58 to rotate about the eccentric axis and reciprocate the wand 62. This latter action causes the wand to dip a film carrier 70 which is suspended from the end of the wand into the corresponding tank 54. A small magnet may be mounted at one end of the cam rod 58 adjacent, for example, the bracket 36, and a corresponding magnetic switch may be mounted on the bracket to close for each revolution of the cam 58. In this way, the number of times the carrier is dipped into a corresponding developer tank may be counted, and the electronic circuitry may be set for a different predetennined number of dips for each particular tank, with the number being established by the setting of the aforesaid dial 14, as determined by the brand of film being processed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first tank 54 may contain an appropriate developer solution, the second tank may contain a rinse, the third tank may contain a fixer solution, and the fourth tank may contain a further rinse.

Therefore, in the operation of the apparatus, film supported in the carrier 70 suspended from the end of the wand 62 is properly positioned and lowered first into the tank 54 of developing solution, and it is dipped in and drawn out of the tank a predetermined number of times, depending upon the brand of film being processed. The film is then raised and carried by the carriage 30 to the first rinse tank, at which the clipping operation is repeated for another predetermined number of dips. The film is raised again, and it is carried to the next tank 54 in which it is dipped a predetermined number of times into the fixer solution. The film is then raised once more and carried to the second rinse tank 54, at which another predetermined number of dips is carried out.

The film may then be dried by an appropriate blower (not shown), and it is then returned to the initial position so that it may be removed from the apparatus. As mentioned above, the number of times any particular film is dipped into each of the various tanks is established by setting the dial 14 on the control panel 12 of FIG. 1. Each of the tanks 54 may have the configuration shown in FIG. 4. As shown, the tanks are partially covered to reduce evaporation, and with the forward edge of the cover serving as a convenient handle for the removal of the tank. The tank 54 of FIG. 4 is also made narrow, so as to reduce evaporation to a minimum. A convenient pouring spout 54a is provided at the forward end of the tank so that the remaining liquid in the tank may conveniently be poured out during a cleaning operation.

The film carriage 70 may be suspended from the end of the wand 62 (FIG. 5) by means, for example, ofa line 72. A swivel 73 is interposed in the line 72. The carriage 70 has the form of a cylindrical rack, with the film strips 74 radially supported as fins, and between an upper bracket 75 and a lower bracket 77. The films are supported in curved slots in a central hub 79 and in slots in the lower bracket 77. The hub 79 is integral with the lower bracket 77 and is hollow.

Radial vanes are provided in the upper and lower brackets so as to cause the rack to rotate in one direction as it is dipped into any one of the tanks 54, and in the opposite direction as it is withdrawn, such rotation preventing any tendency for stationary bubbles to be formed on the film surface or for bromide streaking of the film being processed to occur. It is further evident that said radial vanes windmill when exposed to the air stream of a drier producing centrifugal forces that throw off excess water which aids in the drying processes.

A rod 81 extends down from the upper bracket 75, and this rod is received into the hollow interior of the hub 79 after the film strips 74 are in place. A spring loaded plunger 83 is provided on the bracket 75 which operates an appropriate latch 85 at the lower end of the rod 81, permitting the rod to be releasably locked into the hub 79. The film carrier may be composed of a suitable plastic, such as delryn or nylon. The upper and lower brackets have a distinctive shape to be identified by feel in a dark room.

It will be appreciated that with the construction described above, all electric wiring is encased within the stainless steel tubes, and all parts exposed to the corrosive vapors within the housing are formed either of stainless steel or of plastic material, so as to avoid any corrosive attacks of the operating components, or electric leads used in the system.

Appropriate circuitry for the electronic control system of the apparatus is shown in FIGS. 6-9. The control system is designed to provide a predetermined control of the dipping time in each of the four tanks 54 of FIG. 2, together with the ability to select with a single wafer switch 14, four separate time sequences of four time periods each. The resultant 16 time intervals are each independently adjustable by adjusting taps on potentiometers 100, 102, 104 and 106 in FIG. 7, and these adjustments may be made by means of appropriate internal screwdriver controls. The potentiometers 100, 102, 104 and 106 are connected to various segments of the switch 14, so that the switch 14 may be turned to any one of four positions, for example, with each position of the switch establishing a predetermined setting on each of the four potentiometers. Once the control have been set, any group of four intervals, for example, is instantly selectable through the front panel control switch 14. As mentioned above, the group of intervals are set according to the processing time requirements of the corresponding film types, and once set, the intervals are repeatable within 1 percent.

The various components of the electronic control system are shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9. The circuit of FIG. 6 may be designated the Lateral Drive Command Circuit," and this circuit serves to cause the carriage 30 to move from one lateral position to the next along the rod 34 of FIGS. 2 and 3. The circuit of FIG. 8 may be designated the Lateral Drive Respond Circuit," and it responds to the drive commands from the circuit of FIG. 6 to energize the lateral drive motor 40 for the appropriate interval. A diode sorting network shown in FIG. 7 intercouples the circuits of FIGS. 6 and 8, as will be described. The circuit of FIG. 7 also includes a lateral drive power control circuit which actually controls the power applied to the carriage drive motor 40. The control circuit for the vertical cam drive motor 56 is designated vertical logic and power control circuit, and is shown in FIG. 9.

The lateral drive command circuit of FIG. 6 is a four-stage anode-coupled silicon controlled rectifier ring counter, and it includes four silicon controlled rectifiers designated Q5, Q6, Q7 and Q8. The start switch 16 is connected through a 22 kilo-ohm resistor R29 and through a 680 ohm resistor R22 to the gate electrode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q5. The resistor R29 is shunted by a 0.047 microfarad capacitor C42. The gate electrode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q5 is connected to a grounded 220 ohm resistor R23 which is shunted by a 0.0047 microfarad capacitor C33. The cathode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q5 is grounded, and its anode is connected to the energizing coil of a relay K5 through a 1,500 ohm resistor R18. The energizing coil of the relay K5 is shunted by a diode CR25, and is connected through a diode CR6 to the positive terminal of a 28-volt direct-current source. The diode CR6 may be of the type designated lN400l, whereas the diode CR25 may be of the type designated 1N1 18.

The anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q5 is connected through a 4,700 ohm resistor R44 to the cathode of a diode CR33. The resistor R44 is also connected through a one cycle drive limit switch 110 to a 0.047 microfarad capacitor C38. The switch 110 may be a toggle switch mounted on the front panel 12 of FIG. 1. When the toggle switch is opened, the system operates to process the film only to the first tank 54, and the carriage is then returned to the origin position.

The capacitor C38 is connected to the gate of the silicon controlled rectifier 06, the said gate being connected to a grounded 220 ohm resistor R24 and 0.0047 microfarad capacitor C34, the capacitor also being grounded. The cathode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q6 is grounded, and its anode is connected through a 1,500 ohm resistor R19 to the energizing coil of a relay K6. The relay K6 is shunted by a diode CR26.

The anode of the silicon controlled rectifier O6 is connected through a 4,700 ohm resistor R45 and through a two cycle drive limit switch 112 to a 0.047 capacitor C39. The switch 112 may likewise be a toggle switch, and it also may be mounted on the front panel 12 of FIG. 1. When the switch 1 10 is closed, and the switch 112 is opened, the apparatus is conditioned to process the film in the first two tanks of FIG. 2, and then return the film to the origin position. When both the switches are closed, the system is conditioned to process the film through all four tanks.

The resistor R45 is connected to a diode CR34, whereas the capacitor C39 is connected to the gate of the silicon controlled rectifier Q7 The latter gate is connected to a grounded 220 ohm resistor R25 and to a grounded 0.047 microfarad capacitor C35. The anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q7 is connected through a -0 ohm resistor R to the energizing coil of a relay K7. The energizing coil of the relay K7 is shunted by a diode CR27.

The anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q7 is also connected to a 4,700 ohm resistor R46 which, in turn, is connected to a diode CR35 and to a 0.047 microfarad capacitor C40. The capacitor C40 is connected to the gate of the silicon controlled rectifier Q8, and to a grounded 220 ohm resistor R26 and grounded 0.0047 microfarad capacitor C36. The cathode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q8 is grounded, and the anode is connected through a 1,500 ohm resistor R21 to the energizing coil of a relay K8. The energizing coil of the relay K8 is shunted by a diode CR28. A group of 0.47 microfarad capacitors C5, C6, C7 and C8 are connected respectively between the anodes of the silicon controlled rectifiers Q5, Q6, Q7 and Q8.

The diodes C25, C26, C27 and C28 are all connected to 0.0047 microfarad capacitors C29, C30, C31 and C32, the capacitors, in turn, being connected to the anodes of the respective silicon controlled rectifiers Q5, Q6, Q7 and Q8. The anodes of the diodes CR33, CR34 and CR35 are all connected through a 600 ohm resistor R27 and 22 kilo-ohm resistor R28 to an output terminal 114 which is connected to a pair of normally closed contacts associated with a relay K9 in the circuit of FIG. 9. A 0.047 microfarad capacitor C41 is shunted across the resistor R28. The capacitor C32 is connected to a grounded 50 microfarad capacitor C37.

The relays K5, K6, K7 and K8 control normally open relay contacts in H6. 7 which are interconnected with normally open relay contacts K1, K2, K3 and K4 through a diode sorting network, as shown, and which includes diodes CR9-CR20. One terminal of a first pair of normally open contacts K5, K6, K7 and K8 in FIG. 7 is connected to a pair of normally open relay contacts K13 in FIG. 9. A second pair of normally open relay contacts K5, K6, K7 and K8 of FIG. 7 are connected to a full-wave rectifier 119 made up of diodes C29, C30, C31 and C32. The energizing coil of.a relay K2 is connected across the rectifier, and is shunted by a 50 microfarad capacitor C26. A 24-volt alternating-current voltage is introduced across a pair of terminals 120, one of the terminals being connected to the full-wave rectifier, and the other being connected to the normally open relay contacts K1, K2, K3 and K4.

The energizing coil of a relay K10 is connected across the full-wave rectifier 119 in the lateral drive power control circuit of FIG. 7, a diode CR42 being included in the circuit, and the relay coil being shunted by a 1.0 microfarad capacitor C20. The relay K10 includes a pair of normally open contacts which are connected to the gate electrodes of a pair of power silicon controlled rectifiers Q 10 and Q11. The energizing coil of a second relay K1] is also connected across the full-wave rectifier 119 through a diode CR41, the latter energizing coil being shunted by a 1.0 microfarad capacitor C21. The relay K11 has a pair of normally open contacts which are connected to the gate electrodes of a further pair of power silicon controlled rectifiers Q12 and Q13. The silicon controlled rectifiers Q10, Q11, Q12 and 013 may be of the type designated MCR406-4.

The anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q10 and the cathode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q11 is connected to one terminal of the drive motor 40, whereas the anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q12 and the cathode of the silicon controlled rectifier 013 is connected to a second terminal of the drive motor 40. A common terminal of the drive motor is connected to one of a pair of terminals 150, the other terminal being connected to the cathodes of the silicon controlled rectifiers Q10 and Q12, and to the anodes of the silicon controlled rectifiers Q11 and Q13. The ll7-volt altemating-current voltage from the usual alternating-current mains is applied across the terminals 150.

When power is applied between the common central terminal and the right" terminal of the drive motor 40, the motor drives the carriage 30 in one direction, whereas when power is applied to the left" terminal and common terminal, the carriage motor 40 drives the carriage 30 in the opposite direction.

The relay K11 has a pair of normally open contacts which are connected to the gate electrodes of the silicon controlled rectifiers Q12 and Q13. The gate electrodes of the silicon controlled rectifiers Q10, Q11, Q12 and Q13 are inter-coupled with the respective cathodes through respective 0.01 microfarad capacitors C22, C23, C24 and C25.

The magnetic switches 52 which serve to sense the four positions of the carriage along the rods 32 and 34 are connected to respective silicon controlled rectifiers Q1, Q2, Q3 and O4 in the lateral drive respond circuit of FIG. 8. The sense switch 52 for position 1 is connected, for example, to a 22 kilo-ohm resistor R1 to the gate electrode of the silicon controlled rectifier Ql, the resistor R1 being shunted by a 0.047 microfarad capacitor C9. The gate electrode of the silicon controlled rectifier O1 is connected to a 220 ohm grounded resistor R5 and to a 0.0047 microfarad grounded capacitor C13. The cathode of the silicon controlled rectifier O1 is grounded. The anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q1 is connected through a 1,500 ohm resistor R12 to the energizing coil of the relay K1, the said energizing coil being shunted by a diode CR21. The other terminal of the coil K1 is connected to the positive terminal of the 28-volt DC source, the negative terminal of which isgrounded. An indicator lamp 11 is connected to the anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q1 and to the positive terminal of the 28-volt source.

The magnetic switch 52 at the sensing position No. 2 is connected to the silicon controlled rectifier Q2 through a similar circuit involving a capacitor C10, a resistor R2, a resistor R6 and a capacitor C14. The silicon controlled rectifier Q2 is likewise connected to the energizing coil of the relay K2 through the resistor R14, the energizing coil being shunted by a diode CR22, and an indicating lamp 12 being included in the circuit. Likewise, the switch 52 at the sensing position No. 3 is connected to a silicon controlled rectifier Q3 through a similar circuit involving capacitors C11 and C15 and resistors R3 and R7. The silicon controlled rectifier Q3 is connected through a resistor R14 to the energizing coil of the relay. K3, with diodes CR23 and indicating lamp 13 being included in the circuit. Likewise, the switch 52 at the sensing position No. 4 is connected through a similar circuit to the silicon controlled rectifier Q4, the latter circuit involving resistors R4 and R8 and capacitors C12 and C16. The silicon controlled rectifier Q4 is connected through a resistor R14 to the energizing coil of the relay K4, with diodes CR24 and indicating lamp 14 being included in the circuit.

It will be appreciated that the circuit parameters of the circuits associated with the silicon controlled rectifiers Q2, Q3

and Q4 are similar to the parameters of the circuit connected to the silicon controlled rectifier Q1. A 50 microfarad capacitor C19 is connected between the positive terminal of the 28- volt direct-current source and ground, and respective capacitors C1, C2, C3 and C4, each having a capacity of 0.47 microfarads are interconnected between the respective anodes of the silicon controlled rectifiers Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4.

The vertical logic and power control circuit of FIG. 9 includes an NPN transistor 020, the emitter of which is connected to ground through a pair of diodes CR39 and CR40, and whose collector is connected through a 750 ohm resistor R36 and through the energizing coil of the relay K13, and through a diode CR5 to the positive terminal of the 28-volt direct-voltage source. The energizing coil of the relay K13 is shunted by a diode CR36.

The circuit of FIG. 9 also includes a PNP transistor 016, the emitter of which is connected through diodes C37 and C38 to the 28-volt DC line 180. The collector of the transistor 016 is connected through a 4700 ohm resistor R37, and through a time base control 250 kilo-ohm potentiometer R36 to the gate electrode of a field effect transistor Q19. The transistor Q19 may be of the type designated 2N2 l 60, the transistor Q16 may be of the type designated 2N4l25, and the transistor Q20 may be of the type designated 2N4l23. The source electrode of the transistor Q19 is connected to a grounded 100 ohm resistor R42, and the drain electrode is connected through a 470 ohm resistor R33 to the lead 180. The gate electrode of the field effect transistor 019 is connected to a grounded 25 microfarad capacitor C25. The lead 180 is connected to a grounded 50 microfarad capacitor C40.

The circuit of FIG. 9 also includes a pair of silicon controlled rectifiers Q17 and Q18 the cathodes of which are grounded. The gate electrode of the transistor Q17 is connected to one of a pair of synchronizing terminals 182 through V1, the gate electrode being connected to a grounded 220 ohm resistor R39 and grounded 0.0047 microfarad capacitor C50. The other terminal 182 is connected to a grounded l microfarad capacitor C52 and through a 33 kilo-ohm resistor R30 to a time control terminal 184.

The gate electrode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q18 is connected through a 680 ohm resistor R41 to one of a pair of normally closed contacts associated with the relay K12. The associated normally open contact is connected through a 47 ohm resistor R16 to the positive terminal of the 28-volt source, and the common contact is connected to a grounded l microfarad capacitor C43. The gate electrode of the silicon controlled rectifier 018 is also connected to a grounded 220 ohm resistor R40 and to a grounded 0.0047 microfarad capacitor C51.

The anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q18 is connected through a 750 ohm resistor R32 to one side of the relay coil K9, the other side being connected to the common lead 180, and the coil being shunted by a diode CR43. The anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q18 is also connected through a 2,700 ohm resistor R35 to the base of the transistor 016, the base being connected to the lead 180 through a 220 ohm resistor R34. The anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q18 is also connected to a 0.47 microfarad capacitor C49 and to a 0.0047 microfarad capacitor C48. The capacitor C49 is connected to the anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q17 and to a 1,500 ohm resistor R31 and 0.0047 microfarad capacitor C47. The resistor R31 and the capacitors C47 and C48 are connected to the common lead 180. The anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q17 is connected to the resistor R31, as well as to the capacitors C47 and C49.

The normally open contacts of the relay K13 are connected to the relay contacts K5, K6, K7 and K8 of FIG. 7, as mentioned above, and also to the junction of a resistor R18 and microfarad grounded capacitor C46. The resistor R18 is connected through a diode CR8 to one of the terminals 190, the other terminal 190 being grounded. The l17-volt alternatingcurrent voltage from the usual AC mains is introduced across the terminals 190. The ungrounded terminal 190 is also connected to the anode of a silicon controlled rectifier Q14 and to the cathode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q15. The relay K9 includes a pair of normally open contacts connected to the gate electrodes of the silicon controlled rectifiers Q14 and Q15. The gate electrodes of the two silicon controlled rectifiers are connected to their cathodes through respective 0.01 microfarad capacitors C27, C28. The relay K19 also controls a pair of normally open contacts connected to a grounded 1 microfarad capacitor C44 and to a 4,700 ohm resistor R17, the resistor being connected to the common lead 180. An associated pair of normally closed contacts are connected to the resistor R28 in FIG. 6. The power for the cam vertical drive motor 56 is derived across terminals 200, one of which is grounded. The ungrounded terminal 200 is connected to the anode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q and to the cathode of the silicon controlled rectifier Q14.

As mentioned above, the lateral drive command circuit of FIG. 6 comprises a four-stage anode-coupled silicon controlled rectifier ring counter comprising the silicon controlled rectifiers 05-08. By means of the limit controls connected to the toggle switches 110 and 112 on the front panel 12 of FIG.

will trigger the silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) Q5 into conduction, energizing the relay K5. The SCR Q5 will remain conductive until the next SCR Q6 is triggered.

When the relay K5 is energized, and if the carriage 30 happens to be at any station other than station 1, it will be returned to station 1 in a manner to be described. When the carriage reaches station 1 it closes the corresponding magnetic switch 52 so as to fire the silicon controlled rectifier Q1 of FIG. 8 and energize the relay K1.

The lateral drive response circuit of FIG. 8, which consists of the silicon controlled rectifiers 01-04, is a four-stage anode-coupled SCR chain memory. The purpose of the circuit is to provide a sustained positional memory of the last position occupied by the film carrier. In each position of travel of the carriage 30, the carriage activates a corresponding one of the magnetic reed switches 52, and each switch is connected into the circuit of FIG. 8 to trigger a corresponding SCR. The relays K1, K2, K3 and K4 corresponding to the respective SCR's Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 apply response information through the diode sorting network of FIG. 7, by means of which the lateral drive motor 40 is made to operate. The action of the diode sorting network is to apply a pulsating voltage to the lateral drive power control circuit of FIG. 7, so that the lateral power drive motor will move the carriage in the proper direction.

For example, assuming that the carriage is at position 4 when the start button 16 is depressed so as to energize the relay K5, the 24-volt AC voltage applied to the terminal is introduced across the full-wave rectifier 1 19, but is half-wave rectified, for example, by the diode CR17 in the diode sorting network. This half-wave rectified voltage is applied to the relay K11, rather than the relay K10 in the lateral drive power circuit, due to the polarity of the diodes CR41 and CR42. This means that the relay K11 closes and fires the SCRs Q12 and Q13 so that the lateral drive motor 40 is energized to drive the carriage 30 to the left in FIG. 2, and back to position 1. This drive continues as the carriage passes position 3 and position 2, since the circuit is maintained through the diodes CR16 and CR15 in the diode sorting network. However, when the carriage reaches sensing position 1, the SCR Q1 is fired energizing the relay K1. Now, since the relays K2, K3 and K4 are all de-energized, there is no longer a path to the lateral drive power control circuit, and the lateral drive motor 40 is deenergized so that the carriage 30 stops at the position 1 over the first tank 54.

The relay K12 is controlled by the full-wave rectifier 1 19, so that it is energized whenever a half-wave drive signal is received from the diode sorting network, regardless of its polarity. Therefore, when the carriage reached position 1 so as to fire the SCR Q1 and energize the relay K1, the relay K12 becomes de-energized so that its contacts move from the 28- volt DC source to charge the capacitor C43 to a position in which the charge from the capacitor C43 is caused to fire the SCR Q18 in the vertical logic and power control circuit of FIG. 9. When the SCR Q18 is fired, the relay K9 is energized thereby firing the SCR's Q14 and Q15 to apply the l l7-volt altemating-current voltage to the vertical drive motor 56. The vertical drive motor now becomes energized, and rotates the cam 58, causing the wand 62 to dip the carrier 70 of FIG. 5 repeatedly into the first tank 54.

As described above, the lateral drive power control circuit of FIG. 7 works in conjunction with the diode sorting network also shown in FIG. 7. As also described, the diode sorting network is a direction sensing means powered by the low voltage alternating current. The arrangement of the diodes CR9-CR20 in the diode sorting network is such as to establish the proper polarity of the pulsating direct current output then applied across the relays K10 and K11, as described above.

For example, if the relay K2 of FIG. 8 and the relay K5 of FIGS. 6 and 7 are energized at the same time, the resulting polarity of the voltage applied across the relays K10 and K11 is such so that only the relay K11 operates. Conversely, if the relays K1 and K6 are closed together, then only the relay K10 will be energized. Therefore, the diode sorting network automatically operates the lateral drive motor in the correct direction, so that a correct response is made to a particular command in the shortest possible time.

In order to isolate the control logic from the motor circuit in the lateral drive power control network, and to insure a minimum of electrical noise generation by the lateral drive motor 40, a static switch composed of two power silicon controlled rectifiers in reverse parallel arrangement is used for both drive outputs, that-is, the SCRs Q10 and Q11 are used for right drive, and SCRs Q12 and Q13 are used for left drive. The corresponding relays K10 and K11 carry only the gate current for the SCRs and are therefore loaded far below their rated capabilities. When, for example, the gates of the SCRs Q10 and Q11 are connected together by the energizing of the relay K10, the SCRs conduct the ll7-volt altemating-current applied across the tenninals 150 to the drive output. When the gates are opened by the de-energizing of the relay K10, for example, the SCRs Q10 and Q11 turn off at the first zero voltage" point on the AC line. The foregoing applies equally to the SCRs Q12 and Q13 and the relay K1 1.

As mentioned above, the full-wave diode bridge 119 provides energy for operating the relay K12 regardless of which polarity is supplied to the lateral drive power control by the sorting network. This means that whenever the lateral drive motor 40 is operating in either direction, the relay K12 is energized. When the relay K12 is energized, the capacitor C43 is charged through the resistor R16 from the +28-volt DC line. When the lateral drive process is completed, and the carriage 30 is positioned at one of the aforesaid stations, the relay K12 is de-energized together with the de-energization of the lateral drive relay K10 or K1 1, and the capacitor C43 discharges into the start circuit of the vertical drive logic, as mentioned above, so as to fire the SCR Q18.

In the circuitry of FIG. 9 V1 is a neon lamp which establishes a firing level for the SCR Q17. The SCRs Q17 and Q18 are connected as a bistable switching circuit, the output of which is amplified in the circuit of the transistor Q16 and applied to a timing circuit formed by the resistor R37, potentiometer R38, the unijunction transistor Q19 and the capacitor C53. The transistor Q19 is actually connected as a relaxation oscillator, and it generates pulses whose repetition rate is established by the setting of the potentiometer R38. The transistor Q20 serves as a current amplifier for the pulses from the transistor Q19 and supplies current to the relay K13. The diodes CR50 and CR5] in the emitter circuit of the transistor Q20 serve to bias the transistor and assure it will be cut off in the intervals between the firing of the transistor Q19.

The silicon controlled rectifiers Q14 and Q15 are connected in the same way, for example, as the SCRs Q10 and Q11 in the circuit of FIG. 7, and serve as an AC static switch for the cam vertical drive motor 56.

The control circuit of FIG. 9, which drives the eccentric cam 58 to cause the wand 62 successively to dip the film carrier 70 in the various tanks 54, is an externally controlled time delay relay of extended range. In addition, the performance of the circuit is synchronized with the rotation of the aforesaid cam 58. This is so that whenever a stop command occurs terminating a dipping operation, the wand is always returned to its up position before the lateral drive circuitry is activated.

When the lateral drive circuit causes the carriage 30 to reach a position at which the cam drive circuit of FIG. 9 is to be activated, it causes the relay K12 to be energized which momentarily moves the wiper of the relay K12 from its lower contact to its upper contact in FIG. 9. This operation of the relay K12 introduces a charge to the capacitor C43 which is then transferred to the SCR Q18 to fire the SCR. The bistable switching circuit now operates and the SCR Q18 is set to its conductive state and the SCR Q17 is set to its non-conductive state.

When the SCR Q18 is conductive the relay K9 is energized, and its upper wiper contact closes to activate the cam drive motor 56 so that the film carrier dipping operation is commenced due to the firing of the SCRs Q14 and Q15. The relay K9 also moves its lower wiper contact to charge the capacitor C44. At the end of the dipping operation, and as will be described, the bistable circuit is triggered so that SCR 017 is again conductive and SCR Q18 is again non-conductive. The relay K9 is now de-energized to stop the cam motor 56, and also the lower wiper contact connects the charged capacitor C44 to the lateral drive circuit of FIG. 6 to activate the lateral drive motor 40 in the manner described above.

When the bistable circuit is in the state in which the SCR Q18 is conductive and the vertical drive cam motor 56 is operating, the transistor Q16 is conductive and the relaxation oscillator circuit of the unijunction transistor Q19 is generating pulses at a rate determined by the setting of the potentiometer R38.

Each pulse from the relaxation oscillator circuit momentarily causes the transistor Q20 to become conductive and this causes the relay K13 to be momentarily energized. The capacitor C46 is charged through a half-wave rectifier formed by diode CR8, and each time the relay K13 is energized, the charged capacitor is connected to the time control input terminal 184 of FIG. 9 through the independent controls 100, 102, 104. and 106 of FIG. 7. This causes a charge on the capacitor CS2 to accumulate until it reaches a level that a connection between the contacts 182 (indicating that the wand is in the up position) causes the SCR Q17 to fire, and the bistable circuit to operate, so that the SCR Q18 is rendered nonconductive. This stops the dipping operation, as described above, and re-initiates the lateral drive.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved film processing apparatus which operates automatically and by means of a self-contained mechanism.

It is evident that although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been described, modifications may be made, and it is intended in the following claims to cover all modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for processing photographic film including: a casing; a tubular member extending across said casing; a carriage slidable on said tubular member; an elongated wand member pivotally mounted on said carriage and extending transversely of said tubular member; a lateral drive motor mounted in said casing; means coupled to said motor and to said carriage to cause said carriage to move along saId tubular member upon energization of said lateral drive motor; an energizing circuit for said lateral drive motor; permanent magnet means carried by said carriage; and a plurality of magnetically operated switches mounted in said tubular member and connected to the energizing circuit of said lateral drive motor for causing said motor to be de-energized as said carriage reaches successive positions along said tubular member as established by the positions of said magnetically operated switches.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which said means comprises cord means extending as a loop between said carriage and said motor.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, and which includes an elongated eccentrically mounted rod extending across said casing in spaced parallel relationship with said tubular member and engaging one end of said elongated wand member so that rotation of said eccentric rod causes said wand member to move angularly with respect to said carriage.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, and which includes a second motor coupled to said elongated rod to cause said rod to rotate about an eccentric axis and to produce the aforesaid angular movement of said wand.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, and which includes a film carrier suspended at one end of said wand.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, in which said film carrier includes vanes to produce rotation of said film carrier as said carrier is moved in and out of a liquid.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, and which includes a plurality of tanks positioned in said casing in side-by-side relationship across said casing, said tanks being disposed under one end of said elongated wand.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7, and which includes a film carrier suspended at one end of said wand, and circuitry for causing said wand to dip said carrier a predetermined number of times into each of said tanks.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8, and which includes a manually adjustable switch for pre-setting the number of times said carrier is dipped in each of said tanks for any particular operation of the apparatus. V

10. The apparatus defined in claim 6, in which said film carrier includes an upper bracket of annular configuration, a

lower bracket of annular configuration, hub means interconnecting said brackets andholding said brackets in spaced and parallel relationship, said hub and at least one of said brackets having slots therein for supporting strips of film to be processed in radial vane-like positions in said carrier.

11. The combination defined in claim 10, in which said brackets have radial vanes therein to produce the aforesaid rotation of said film carrier in one direction as it is moved into the aforesaid liquid and in the opposite direction as it is withdrawn from the liquid.

12. The combination defined in claim 10, in which said hub means includes two telescoping members permitting said brackets to be releasably held in said spaced relationship, and manually operable latching means to lock and release the aforesaid brackets in said relationship.

l l i I i 

1. Apparatus for processing photographic film including: a casing; a tubular member extending across said casing; a carriage slidable on said tubular member; an elOngated wand member pivotally mounted on said carriage and extending transversely of said tubular member; a lateral drive motor mounted in said casing; means coupled to said motor and to said carriage to cause said carriage to move along saId tubular member upon energization of said lateral drive motor; an energizing circuit for said lateral drive motor; permanent magnet means carried by said carriage; and a plurality of magnetically operated switches mounted in said tubular member and connected to the energizing circuit of said lateral drive motor for causing said motor to be de-energized as said carriage reaches successive positions along said tubular member as established by the positions of said magnetically operated switches.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in which said means comprises cord means extending as a loop between said carriage and said motor.
 3. The combination defined in claim 1, and which includes an elongated eccentrically mounted rod extending across said casing in spaced parallel relationship with said tubular member and engaging one end of said elongated wand member so that rotation of said eccentric rod causes said wand member to move angularly with respect to said carriage.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, and which includes a second motor coupled to said elongated rod to cause said rod to rotate about an eccentric axis and to produce the aforesaid angular movement of said wand.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, and which includes a film carrier suspended at one end of said wand.
 6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, in which said film carrier includes vanes to produce rotation of said film carrier as said carrier is moved in and out of a liquid.
 7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, and which includes a plurality of tanks positioned in said casing in side-by-side relationship across said casing, said tanks being disposed under one end of said elongated wand.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 7, and which includes a film carrier suspended at one end of said wand, and circuitry for causing said wand to dip said carrier a predetermined number of times into each of said tanks.
 9. The apparatus defined in claim 8, and which includes a manually adjustable switch for pre-setting the number of times said carrier is dipped in each of said tanks for any particular operation of the apparatus.
 10. The apparatus defined in claim 6, in which said film carrier includes an upper bracket of annular configuration, a lower bracket of annular configuration, hub means interconnecting said brackets and holding said brackets in spaced and parallel relationship, said hub and at least one of said brackets having slots therein for supporting strips of film to be processed in radial vane-like positions in said carrier.
 11. The combination defined in claim 10, in which said brackets have radial vanes therein to produce the aforesaid rotation of said film carrier in one direction as it is moved into the aforesaid liquid and in the opposite direction as it is withdrawn from the liquid.
 12. The combination defined in claim 10, in which said hub means includes two telescoping members permitting said brackets to be releasably held in said spaced relationship, and manually operable latching means to lock and release the aforesaid brackets in said relationship. 